Tom Trago plays Tattoo Queen West
Hibernation is officially over and to you get you moving we’ve got a collection of music that will satisfy everyone’s taste and energy level.
In terms of music events, INK Entertainment is really ramping up their efforts now that it’s confirmed Guvernment is closing for condo construction. INK brings us four major productions for April. The first week of May sees Chromeo return along with vibrant Sultans of Strings. It’s going to be a good spring.
On Thursday, April 10, INK Entertainment presents internationally renowned deep-house DJ Tom Trago at Tattoo Queen West. DJ, producer, live performer and label owner, Trago has three critically acclaimed albums to his name. He divides his time between all-day studio sessions, DJ gigs and live shows all over the globe with a steady stream of musical collaborations with friends world-wide. By the time Trago released his 2006 debut single, “Live With The BBQ,” he had already developed a trademark style that blended the best of three decades of dance music with house rhythms. Get your tickets here.
DJ Questlove of The Roots takes a break from Jimmy Fallon to drop some beats.
On Thursday, April 17, INK Entertainment again takes over Tattoo Queen West with Hennessy Artistry and 1LoveTO bringing you DJ Questlove of the hip-hop group the Roots. Known for co-founding the infamous hip-hop group the Roots and helping create the neo-soul movement, Questlove has created groundbreaking hip-hop albums such as Things Fall Apart (1999) and Phrenology (2002). Since 2008, he has come to popular acclaim as part of the house band for the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon talk show. Get your tickets here.
Friday, April 25, international superstar DJ’s Dada Life will bring their revered Dada Land Compound to Canada for the first time on at the Direct Energy Centre. Presented by INK Entertainment, the Dada Land Compound is unlike any other Dada Life concert anyone has seen in the past. They will premier unheard tracks and bring their full production to Canada for the first time. The Dada Land Compound will be an immersive environment where the only rules are the Rules of Dada! Past Dada Land Compounds have included things like World’s Largest Pillow Fight, their “Arrive Beautiful, Leave Ugly” photo booth, festival quality laser productions and world class support acts. “We are ready to turn Canada into Canadada with the first ever Dada Land Compound show in Toronto,” said Dada Life. “This one is going to be the compound of all compounds. We’ve been planning this for months and can’t wait to get everyone super ugly. All you need is one smile; we will give you all night”. Get your tickets here.
Get in the groove with seductive swing originals from Beverly Taft & The Nathan Hiltz Orchestra
For three sizzlin’ nights at the Jazz Bistro (formerly The Senator), this April 24-26, Beverly Taft and co-conspirator & guitarist Nathan Hiltz, celebrate their seductive swing originals with the release of Beverly Taft Meets the Nathan Hiltz Orchestra. This release shows Taft to be more than a jazz singer or interpreter. She digs deeper into the language of jazz, towards grasping its very essence for a better understanding of its impact on our lives. As a result, every lyric carries the weight of this deeply-rooted relationship – each word delivered by a singer with an uncanny connection to her material. Taft’s velvety voice and meticulous phrasing proves ideally matched to the band which has coalesced around her. Get tickets here.
Duke Dumont hits Coda on April 26. His meticulous production earned him a deal with Astralwerks and a 2014 Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording for his monumental UK-garage hit “Need U (100%)” feat A*M*E*. He also just dropped a remix package this week for his latest single “I Got U” feat Jax Jones with reworkings from the likes of Bondax, MK. The original charted #1 on HypeMachine and #1 on Beatport House and already sports more than 2.5 million Soundcloud plays in last 2 months. Get tickets here.
INK Entertainment takes over Tattoo Queen West one more time on Thursday, May 1, in conjunction with Noisey presenting Chicago hip-hop recording artist Vic Mensa. Former member of Kids These Days, Mensa released his second, and most well-known mixtape INNANETAPE shortly after the group broke up in 2013. Featuring guest appearances by Ab-Soul, Thundercat, Chance The Rapper and Rockie Fresh, the mixtape was downloaded over 35,000 times within a month of its release. Mensa quickly became one of Chicago’s most lyrically creative teenage rappers, joining J. Cole and Wale on the What Dreams May Come Tour in 2013. Mensa is a true student of the game and his commitment to uncompromising creativity on the mic is a refreshing change in the hip-hop industry. Get tickets here.
Dave 1 and P Thugg aka Chromeo are owning 2014. Catch them May 2 @ Danforth Music Hall.
Chromeo comes back to Toronto on May 2 this time to the Danforth Music Hall. Dave 1 and P Thugg are owning 2014. After ten years in the game the duo are striding at OG status with their fourth LP White Women coming May 12. With cameos from Solange, Toro y Moi, and Ezra from Vampire Weekend, they played Fallon, they are playing the Main Stage at Coachella and also have two sold out T5 shows on this run. Electrofunk is the answer and you can get tickets here.
Hot on the heels of their sold out show at Koerner Hall, Sultans of String get up close ‘n’ personal at a special matinee show in the Kingston Rd Village Concert Series on May 4. For this intimate performance, these JUNO nominees/2x CFMA winners meet the electricity of special guest, sitar master Anwar Khurshid. Known for dizzying roots music jams, poly-rhythms and revved up riffs, the Sultans of String sound can’t be pinned down — its Sable Island meets the Silk Road, with detours through the Gypsy-Jazz coffeehouses of Eastern Europe. Fiery violin dances with kinetic guitar while a funky bass lays down unstoppable grooves. Throughout, acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound. Join the groove and get tickets here.
Told you it’s a busy month. I’m tired just reading this. @VIPRene
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Want to win a pair of tickets to see the Sultans of String perform May 4th. Well here’s your chance.
Simply re-tweet the @SceneInTO music post message (following us would be a nice gesture too), or comment on this post via this comment thread or like us on Facebook and tell us you want to win.
2 lucky winners will be randomly chosen on Wednesday April 30. Follow @sultansofstring for all their upcoming tour dates.
Want to win a pair of tickets to see the Sultans of String perform May 4th. Well here’s your chance.
Simply re-tweet the @SceneInTO music post message (following us would be a nice gesture too), or comment on this post via this comment thread or like us on Facebook and tell us you want to win.
2 lucky winners will be randomly chosen on Wednesday April 30. Follow @sultansofstring for all their upcoming tour dates.